Portable dark chamber.



A BENKO 20mm DARK CHAMBER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. I916. 1,233,441

Patented July 17, 1917 I 5 SHEETSSHEET l.

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A. BENKO.

PORTABLE DARK CHAMBER.

APPLICATION FILED unalslu Patented J 1113 17, 1917 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- z m m A. BENKO.

PORTABLE DARK CHAMBER. 7 APPLICATION FILED MAYB, 191s.

Patented July 17, 1917,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- A. BENKO.

PORTABLE DARK CHAMBER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3.1916.

1 233,441. Patented July 17, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ANDREW BENKO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PORTABLE DARK CHAMBER.

Application filed May 3, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW Bnnno, a subject of the King of Hungary, residing at New York, in the counti of New York, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Portable Dark Chambers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for developing and otherwise operating upon photographic plates or films, known generally as a dark chamber.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus inv which such photographic plates may be subjected to the operation of developing, washing and fixing, without the inlet of actinic light rays which would destroy the image upon plates which have been exposed in a camera or like apparatus.

Another object is to provide such an apparatus in a form which can be collapsed into small compass and readily car ied from place to place as may be desired.

These and other objects are attained by the novel'construction and combination of parts hereafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a plan V16\V of an apparatus, made in accordance with the invention, the parts being extended in operative condition.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is side elevation of the same.

Fig. at is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 411 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevational and sectional view, showing the apparatus folded into its smallest compass.

Fig. 6 is a fragment-a1 plan view, illustrating the light controlling device.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side view, showing indetail the rear extension supports.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the front extension supports also shownin detail.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged front view of the upper portion of the apparatus, parts being broken away to show the construction.

Fig. 13 is a partial plan view of the same.

Fig. lat is another plan view of the same, but showing the parts in a different position.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1917. Serial No. 95,116.

Fig. 15 is a fragmental rear view, similar to that shown in Fig. 12, and

Fig. 16 is an end view, partly broken away, taken on line 16-16 of Fig. 12.

This invention is an improvement over a previous patent, issued March 26, 1912, #1,021,035, the improvements consisting principally in the addition of means whereby the walls of the chamber may be kept in a rigidly extended position, the same assum ing a more nearly. rectangular shape.

Like the former invention, the apparatus is composed of two principal container portions, the lower or base ,of which is provided with feet 21, adapted to rest upon any level surface as indicated.

The upper portion 22 of the container is provided with interengaging snap catches 23 at each end, central of the frame work, the same being adapted to engage with clips 24, secured to the lower or base element 20. The handle is hingedly connected to the side of the upper portion, affording means for convenient carriage of the apparatus.

In order to hold the parts rigidly extended when it is desired to make use of the apparatus, brackets 28 are rigidly attached to the interior sides of the upper portion of the container 22, the same having links 29 pivotally connected thereto at one end, the lower ends being v pivoted at 30, between washers 31, which may be tensionally main tained in intimate contact by the screws 32, connecting with the free ends of bent levers 33, which are hingedly engaged with brackets 31 secured within the lower container 20.

Hooks 35, are pivoted in clips 36 in such manner that when the upper portion is eX- tended the hooks will engage with the outer wall of the lower container 20 and maintain the links in a substantially erect position, as shown in Figs. 3 ands; thus provisions are made for holding in an extended position the front portion of the apparatus.

Similar provisions are made at the rear by means of brackets LO secured within the upper section of the container, links etl being pivoted to the brackets, the lower ends of the links having pins provided with flanged heads and adapted to travel in open slots i3, formed in strips if, secured at their ends, i5 and f6 respectively, at a point near the center of the cover and at the rear thereof.

Braces 1? are pivoted midway in length of the links 41 and to the extreme ends 48 of the strips 4H. When in extended position as shown in Fig. 8, the braces l7 are locked with the links ll by means of pivoted links 49 detachable at 4L9. When the pins 42 are drawn toward the front of the apparatus, the links 41 are caused to move outward at their lower'ends, allowing the upper portion of the container to make contact with the lower portion as shown in Fig. 5.

In addition to the lateral side coverings 50, clamped between the washers 31, made of any preferred opaque textile fabric, similar coverings 52 at the front and rear are used so that when the interior of the apparatus is in a raised or operative condition, it is effectually guarded against the inlet of light.

Attached to the lateral coverings 50 are extensions 55, each having an elliptical base 46 and extending outwardly to receive the arm of an operator through the openings 56, the same being held in a normal contracted position by a pair of coiled springs 58, the same holding the hand openings tightly against an arm of the operator when entered within.

Both sides of the apparatus are furnished with similar opaque hollow extensions or sleeves having openings through which the arms of an operator may be entered in order to handle articles within the body of the apparatus.

A vizor-shaped plate is secured rigidly upOn frames 76, the plate being provided with a pair of openings 61, suited to the eyes of an observer, the plate being normally held outward by means of a pair of coiled V springs 62, surrounding posts 63, the lower 1 transverse bar 6% passing below and being ends of which are rigidly attached to a connected with links 29, the opposite or outer ends of the posts having secured to them fixed plates 65, the inner ends of which engage with slots (36 formed in levers 67 pivoted to brackets 68 secured to blinds 74-, suitedto cover the openings 61 under normal conditions. An arm 70 shaped to suit the upper front part of the face of an operator is adapted when pressure is applied to it to cause the slides 72 to press against'the springs 62, pressing the coils together, thereby moving out the blinds 74E admitting a view of the interior of the ap paratus. V

x The blinds or plates 74L are pivoted upon rods 77 encircled by coiled springs 78 which normally tend to close the blinds against the opening preventing light from entering within the apparatus, the rods 77 being held in position by engagement of their ends with the downturned walls of the fixed vizor element 70.

For those accustomed to the use of spectacles or eyeglasses provision is made for inserting lenses 75, either those ordinarily used or substitutes, so that no trouble is entertained by the operatorin observing the results of operations performed within the chamber, the lenses being held in recesses adjacent to the blinds 7a.

In the top of the upper section 22, a rectangular opening is made, the same having fitted to it a plate 80 provided with clips 81 by which it may be held against an interior frame 82, the plate 80 being of such size that when it is removed, it will allow a camera in its entirety to be entered there through.

WVithin the plate 80 is an opening 8% having a translucent panel 85, preferably of red glass or similar material, which allows sufficient light to enter to enable the operator to perform whatever work may be desired, but excluding actinic rays as previously mentioned.

In Figs. 6 and 7, plate is indicated a modified form of cover in which the plate 85 is secured by clips 86, not directly against the interior of the upper section 22, but against projections 87, the plate having an arm 88 extending partially into a recess 89 similarly provided with projections 90, the extension carrying the red glass plate 91 as previously described, the purpose of the projections 87 and 90 being to allow for the escape of gases and odors rising from the chemicals used in developing and fixing the photographic plates, but providing effectuallv against the inlet of ordinary light.

In order to graduate the inlet of light so that it may be suited to the purpose of the operator, a pair of semi-circular shutters 92 is provided, each being pivoted at one end and provided with pinions 93 adapted to mesh together and operable by the knob 95 from the interior oft-he apparatus; thus the interior may be rendered as dark as desirable by the operator from the interior of the chamber or the shutters opened to their fullest extent, allowing non-actinic light to enter, sufficient for the purpose mentioned.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is 1. In a portable dark chamber, the combination with a rigid rectangular casing, having upper and lower sections, and adapted to be extended, independent means at the front and rear of said sections for holding said sections in an adjusted position,;a removable cover on the upper of said sections, a frame set in the center of said cover, a colored glass plate held in said frame,means for detachably securing said frame to said cover, a plurality of projections extending from said cover toward said frame upon which the latter are adapted to be seated, thereby providing the air space between said cover and said frame, said frame extending beyond the edges of the opening in said cover, preventing light rays from passing therebetween.

2. In a portable dark chamber, the combination with a ri 'id casing divided into upper and lower sections, means for securing said sections in a closed position, means for carrying said sections when closed, means for holding said sections one over the other in an extended position, opaque walls formed of textile fabric secured to the inner edges of each of said sections. said walls being foldable therebetween when the sections are closed, hooks combined with said extending devices adapted to hold the same when in operative position, a removable cover on the upper of said sections, means combined with said cover for admitting light, blinds pivoted to the casing at one end and adapted to control the light entrance, means for operating said blinds and means permissive of the entry of air to the chamher.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ANDREW BENKO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

